Improvement in ditching-machines



i thermen STA'rns ALBERT w. cox, on DUBLIN, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DlTCHlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,563. dated May 3, 1864.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT WV. COX, of Dublin, Wayne county, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Machine for Excavating Ditches, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification.

My improvement relates to the class of cxcavating-machines which contain a plow for opening the ground and a series of elevators for removing the dirt from the ditch and depositing it to one side thereof, and my invention relates chiefly to devices for graduating the depth of excavation and expeditiously unearthing the excavating mechanism, and again depressing the same, without disarranging the adjustments or disturbing the belted or other connections.

The accompanying drawing is a persper tive view of a machine embodying my im provenient.

A represents a triangular truck-bed or frame, whose rear is supported by a pair of ground-wheels, B B', which wheels are fast to the axle C, while its front end or apex enters a slot, d, lin the front axle, l), to which it is secured by means of aking bolt, E. The

front wheels, li, revolve freely on the front axle, D. l

G is an adjustable platform of similar triangular form to the bed A, to whose rear por-V tion it is hinged, g, in the manner shown.

H II are standards which extend upward from the frame or bed A, and afford journalv bearing to a small windlass, I J K L, a rope or chain, M, depending from said windlass, being secured to the front end ofthe platform G, and enabling the elevation or depression ofthe latter.

N is a rail attached transversely to the platform G near its front end, and slotted vertically to firmly hold and guide the sliding stem or sheth O of a plow, P. 4rlhe frontedge, o, ot' the sheth O, at its lower part, has a knife-edge so as to readily cleave the soil, while the rear edge of the sheth O hasarack, o', which, meshing with a pinion, Q, on a crank-sha't R r, journaled in the platform G, enables the operator to elevate or depress the plow P, with respect to the platform, according as shallow or deep excavation is desired.

The elevator-frame S is at its upper end hinged to braces T, which are themselves hinged to the rear axle. The lower end of elevator-frame is provided with curved racks U U, which mesh ino pil iins V, whoseshaft c is geared to the shaft i" by means of a chaillbelt, W, causing the elevation or depression of the plow P to be accompanied by a corresponding elevation or depression ofthe elevator. The elevatorbuckets X are attached to an endless belt, Y, which is stretched around rollers Z Z, journaled in theframe S.

A belt, 1, from the rear axle, lO, to the upper elevatorroller, Z, causes the elevator to revolve at every advance of the machine along the ground.

A pawl-and ratchet movement, K L, rctaius the platform G to any vertical adjustment to which it may be brought by the windlass, and a similar pawl and ratchet, 2 3. preserves the adjustment of the plowing and elevating mechanism with respect to the platform; so that the said mechanism may be elevated for any purpose-such as passing an obstruction-and again depressed Without dz'sturbing the permanenti djustment or varying the depth ot' excavation.

'lhe dirt is conveyed oft' from the elevator and deposited to one side of the excavation by means of a chute, 4.

rlhe shaft v traverse curved slots u u in the elevator-frame, which slots, together with the racks U U', are curved irregularly, as represented, so as to preserve the exact relative positions of the plow and elevator, however much they may be elevated or depressed with respect to the platform.

I claim herein as new and of my inventionl. rlhe arrangement of the parts N O o P Q R r S T U U u a V V W l, or devices substantially equivalent, whereby the plow and elevator are capacitated for simultaneous elevation and depression while preserving their proper relative positions and the continuity of the driving mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. The devices G I-I'H' I J K LM, or their equivalents, for enabling the sudden elevation of the excavating mechanism out of the ground and its restoration to the working position, without disturbing the adjustment, as herein explained.

. In testimony of vh`ch invention I hereunto set my hand.

Vitnesses: ALBERT W. COX.

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMEs H. LAYMAN. 

